http://www.globaljourneys.net/http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/selecting-flights-for-your-cruisehttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/selecting-flights-for-your-cruise When selecting flights for your cruise, you need to make sure you will be arriving early enough and returning late enough!  Be careful how you select your flights! 1)     Departure Flight.  Unless you are fairly close to your departure city you should strongly consider flying in at least a day prior to your cruise.   This is especially true if you will need to change planes en route to your de...Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:04:02 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/before-you-leave-the-househttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/before-you-leave-the-housedon't forget toLeave a copy of your itinerary, a house key and a copy of your passports/visas with family or close friend.  Scan and email them to yourself as well.Advise local police of your plans if your alarm system is alerts them.Advise a neighbor to watch your house and collect mail or have it held at the post office.Arrange lodging for petsClean and set your refrigeratorPut your expensive...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:45:48 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/is-it-safe-to-drink-the-waterhttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/is-it-safe-to-drink-the-waterAccording to the CDC contaminated drinking water is one of the leading sources of health problems for travelers, and can cause anything from mild gastrointestinal distress to serious bacterial diseases.The most common cause of water-borne illness is bacteria, such as E. coli, cholera and salmonella, but illness can also be caused by protozoa , viruses and chemical pollutants.In many cases, trav...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:33:53 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/assorted-and-sundry-cruise-travel-tipshttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/assorted-and-sundry-cruise-travel-tips ~Mail overflowing your mailbox is a neon sign to thieves that you aren't home.  Have a neighbor collect your mail or request the post office to hold it while you’re gone.  Now you can even do that online at http://www.usps.com/. ~ A "pop-up" mesh clothes hamper packs flat in your suitcase and keeps your closet neat on board. ~ Don't bother packing beach towels, they will be provided for your u...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:22:39 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/cruising-with-kids-the-guidehttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/cruising-with-kids-the-guide Cruising with Kids…Is It Right for You? When I was a kid in Sacramento many years ago I loved our family vacations to the beach, Lake Tahoe and Disneyland.  Back then you didn’t hear of families cruising; that was for rich couples who liked to hang out on the deck and play shuffleboard.   Oh what a difference a few decades can make!   Cruising has made quite an evolution to where it is today. ...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:16:26 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/cruise-and-air-travel-with-kidshttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/cruise-and-air-travel-with-kidsTips for Cruise and Air Travel with Kids Family travel is great fun and can be even better with the right preparation.  I’ve included some tips here that I’ve picked up from various sources that may help to lessen the stress of family travel:Bring a travel kit with snacks, card games , coloring books and other travel sized games.   This will be a life saver on flights and downtime in the hotel ...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:10:39 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/overcoming-jet-laghttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/overcoming-jet-lagOvercoming Jet Lag Jet lag is the bane of foreign travel!   Fighting to stay awake on the day of arrival, unable to sleep in the middle of the night, going straight to slumber land every time you settle into a bus seat, constipation, foggy brain, etc.   This is just never how I envision my upcoming fabulous trip to a foreign land, but an inevitable reality!  What, exactly, is Jet Lag? Your body...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:05:40 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/tipping-on-cruise-shipshttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/tipping-on-cruise-shipsCruise Line Tipping Tipping is easy on cruise lines.   Only in a few instances, if at all, do you need to worry about tipping on the spot.  Most tips are given at the end of the cruise in one lump sum for the week.  On most cruise lines gratuities are expected and encouraged. The traditional tipping procedure is to hand cash gratuities to the service staff on the last full day or evening of the...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:02:08 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/worldwide-tipping-guidehttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/worldwide-tipping-guideWorldwide Tipping GuideDid you know that tipping can be insulting in Japan?   Were you aware that many European hotels and restaurants add the tip to your bill? Tipping can be a puzzling experience for overseas travelers. It’s commonplace in some countries, in others it’s expected only in major cities, and in some it simply isn’t done. The rules are also in a constant state of change, so what w...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:58:30 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/a-guide-for-the-first-time-cruiserhttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/a-guide-for-the-first-time-cruiser First Time Cruise Tips So, you're going on a cruise!   Visions of stunning sunsets, unlimited gastric delights and a week of relaxation and entertainment are certainly dancing through your head.  You are bound to have a wonderful time whether you read these tips or not, but if you do, you might save time and money, bring the right clothes, know where to go when and generally enrich your experi...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:01:33 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/lost-luggage-and-other-diastershttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/lost-luggage-and-other-diastersLost LuggageWith the Transportation Security Administration's recent restrictions regarding liquids in carry-on luggage, more air travelers are opting to check some or all of their bags. The increased volume has put more strain on an already over-taxed system, and the US Department of Transportation’s most recent figures show that more than six out of every thousand travelers are experiencing p...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:24:36 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/avoid-travel-mistakeshttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/avoid-travel-mistakes Avoid Travel Mistakes By Choosing a Cruise Specialist Because a cheap cruise can be an expensive mistake! As a Cruise Specialist, I work hard to build a good relationship with my valued clients.  I listen so that I can learn their likes and dislikes and match their travel needs to their individual personality and budget. If you are truly interested in making this your best vacation ever, pleas...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:19:50 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/travel-safehttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/travel-safeDoes it bother you to check your bag without a lock?    How can you protect your luggage contents if your suitcase gets accidentally slashed?   What can you do to protect yourself from personal theft?   How can you ensure you are safe in your hotel room?   Want to feel safe on your vacation?  Well of course you do!  Tourists are targets, we all know that.  To travel with confidence there are a ...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:12:18 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/what-will-i-need-for-my-triphttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/what-will-i-need-for-my-trip  What Should I Pack and Where Do I Find It?                                   How to Pack Light but with all the Essentials!   Vacation planning might actually be fun without this menacing question hanging over our heads!   Especially in light of heavier luggage weight restrictions and most airlines now charging for the first and/or second checked bag, the pressure is on to pack lighter, smart...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:59:05 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/packing-listhttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/packing-listPacking for your vacation can be one of the worst parts of a cruise. The only thing I can think of that I dread more is unpacking when I get home! Through the years, I have learned that a packing list is essential. Maybe it's my advancing age or just that I have learned "the hard way" by forgetting some essential item and then having to purchase it at double the price on the cruise ship or in a...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:45:46 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/mal-de-merhttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/mal-de-merTips and Remedies for Sea Sickness Has this ever happened to you?  After months of anticipation and preparation we are finally onboard and heading out to sea!  It’s great to be out on the great blue expanse once again.   Out on deck the air is fresh and calming.   We enjoy lunch on the aft deck, endure the muster drill and tour the ship.  The atmosphere is jovial and the pressures of life are s...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:40:15 -0500http://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/river-cruising-what-s-it-all-abouthttp://www.globaljourneys.net/blogPosts/view/river-cruising-what-s-it-all-aboutFor those only familiar with the rules of big ships, here are three reasons riverboat fanatics come back, time and again, for more. DinnerForget buffet dining with 2,000 strangers. River cruises average about 200 passengers per boat, so the wait staff will likely know your name by the end of the first meal . Evening Entertainment Instead of dance clubs, karaoke, and glitzy Vegas-style reviews, ...Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:39:02 -0500